On the other hand, it appears the Department of Natural Resources is listening to hunters, dog owners and farmers in getting more aggressive at reducing the state’s wolf population, though still not fast enough for many.

The Natural Resources Board on June 26 approved the 2013 Wisconsin wolf season quota of 275 as proposed by the DNR Wolf Advisory Committee. The quota was set with the intention of continuing to reduce the state’s wolf population toward the minimum management goal of 350 wolves outside Indian reservations.

DNR carnivore specialist Dave MacFarland said wolves and wolf hunting seasons evoke a spectrum of emotions and opinions from people, and the quota was set with diverse input to try to balance many of the social interests with the need and responsibility to manage the state’s wolf population.

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DNR staff and partner stakeholders representing the agriculture industry, the Chippewa tribes, Wisconsin Conservation Congress, sportsman groups, and statewide organizations with a vested interest in wolf management proposed the 2013 numbers, an increase over last year’s quota of 201.

It is unknown whether or not the state will allow hunters and trappers to fill the quota given to tribes if they again choose not to use them.

A year ago, in the inaugural season, the hunter/trapper part of the 201 quota was 116; the season closed early and 117 wolves were harvested.

This year, if the DNR again treads lightly with the tribes, the hunter/trapper harvest would be a maximum of 160 wolves, a number not likely high enough to lower the population when you factor in new pups born each spring.

The current late-winter 2013 minimum estimate is 809 to 834 wolves, only slightly fewer than the count a year earlier. Including wolves killed by federal trappers or landowners in livestock depredation situations, known vehicle kills and known illegal shootings last year, well over 200 wolves were killed in 2012.

MacFarland said the late winter minimum count roughly doubles in spring of each year after pups are born, and then declines throughout the year due to various sources of mortality, including wolves killing other wolves, starvation, road kills, disease and legal and illegal shootings.

If the 275-wolf quota is reached, MacFarland — who analyzed data, published literature and used population modeling tools — believes the wolf count would drop 10 to 20 percent by next winter.

The quota will be distributed across the landscape with six hunting and trapping zones, identical to last year. The harvestable quota for each zone concentrates hunting pressure in areas with higher potential for agricultural conflicts, allowing for higher population densities in core wolf habitat where potential for conflict is lower.

Though the quota has been decided, the amount of wolves harvestable by state trappers and hunters may be adjusted dependent on tribal harvest declarations. Once that is determined, DNR can confirm the quota and the total licenses that will be available to state hunters and trappers.

The department will maintain the 10-to-1 license-to-quota ratio from the 2012 season. One half of available permits will be issued randomly among all permit applications and the second half will be issued through a cumulative preference point drawing.

The wolf permit application fee is the same as last year, $10, but the license cost has dropped to $49 if drawn, down from $100. The season is set to begin Oct. 15.